Ohio authorities seize 900 pounds of pot, arrest 2

Published: November 7, 2012 6:24PM

FAIRFIELD, Ohio (AP) -- Undercover sheriff's deputies in southwestern Ohio's Butler County seized 937 pounds of marijuana after they intercepted the large shipment from Mexico and posed as drug traffickers, officials said Wednesday.

Sheriff's officials said they believe the Tuesday night seizure is the largest pot bust in the county's history and estimate the marijuana to be worth $1.1 million.

Sgt. Monte Mayer said deputies intercepted the shipment and went undercover to deliver the drugs to their intended recipients at an empty storefront in Fairfield, about 15 miles north of Cincinnati. He declined to say how deputies intercepted the drugs.

He said two men waiting at the storefront accepted the delivery and were immediately arrested on charges of drug trafficking and possession.

"We surprised them," Mayer said. "Basically, in one transaction we ensured that this 937 pounds doesn't get distributed in our area, and I'm sure it's probably made some drug dealers upset that their product is now in our hands."

Baldomero Orozco-Ruiz, 23, and Armando Camacho-Lopez, 31, both of Mexico, were being held in Butler County jail on $1 million bonds. It's unclear whether they have attorneys yet.

Such a large marijuana seizure is relatively rare but not unprecedented in Ohio.

In February 2011, Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers seized 871 pounds of marijuana and arrested a Mexican man after they stopped his pickup truck on Interstate 70 outside of Dayton.

In August, troopers seized 570 pounds of marijuana and arrested two Cincinnati men after a traffic stop on Interstate 275 in the Cincinnati area.